This diploma thesis deals with design of the structure of the shelter i the park of city Hranice na Moravě. This load-bearing structure is made of glued laminated wood with the strength class GL24h. The structure has the shape of half ball and the load-bearing beams are in the shape of an arc. This building will be mainly used for cultural purposes. Ground plan dimensions of this shelter are 25x25 m. A complete static design solution including of all connection details and anchoring has been solved.

This work deals with the design and calculation of membrane structure for shelter placed above selected ground plan. The hyperbolic paraboloid was chosen as most optimal shape. Subsequently, three different sub-studies were conducted. In the first study, influence of mesh density on a finite element calculation model was studied. Second study deal with the effect of the geometry changes of the computational model. In the third study, deformations and tensions of membrane structure in relation to material formation calculation model was studied. For the static solution of those selected variant, structural analysis software RFEM and RF-FORM-FINDING add-on module was used. Geometric nonlinear solution was applied in the calculation.

Designing structures for lightness is an intelligent and responsible way for engineers and architects to conceive structural systems. Lightweight structures are able to bridge wide spans with a least amount of material. However, the quest for lightness remains an utopia without the driving constraints that give sense to contemporary structural design.<p><p>Previously proposed computational methods for designing lightweight structures focused either on finding an equilibrium shape, or are restricted to fairly small design applications. In this work, we aim to develop a general, robust, and easy-to-use method that can handle many design parameters efficiently. These considerations have led to truss layout optimization, whose goal is to find the best material distribution within a given design domain discretized by a grid of nodal points and connected by tentative bars. <p><p>This general approach is well established for topology optimization where structural component sizes and system connectivity are simultaneously optimized. The range of applications covers limit analysis and identification of failure mechanisms in soils and masonries. However, to fully realize the potential of truss layout optimization for the design of lightweight structures, the consideration of geometrical variables is necessary. <p><p>The resulting truss geometry and topology optimization problem raises several fundamental and computational challenges. Our strategy to address the problem combines mathematical programming and structural mechanics: the structural properties of the optimal solution are used for devising the novel formulation. To avoid singularities arising in optimal configurations, the present approach disaggregates the equilibrium equations and fully integrates their basic elements within the optimization formulation. The resulting tool incorporates elastic and plastic design, stress and displacements constraints, as well as self-weight and multiple loading.<p><p>Besides, the inherent slenderness of lightweight structures requires the study of stability issues. As a remedy, we develop a conceptually simple but efficient method to include local and nodal stability constraints in the formulation. Several numerical examples illustrate the impact of stability considerations on the optimal design.<p><p>Finally, the investigation on realistic design problems confirms the practical applicability of the proposed method. It is shown how we can generate a range of optimal designs by varying design settings. In that regard, the computational design method mostly requires the designer a good knowledge of structural design to provide the initial guess. / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The theme of this doctoral thesis is the design of concrete shell structures with the focus on finding their optimal shape. The optimal shape of a concrete shell is the shape in which for a given load (usually the dead weight of the structure) no significant bending moments are generated in the shell and the structure is in the so-called membrane state. The inspiration for this thesis is the work of Swiss engineer Heinz Isler, who developed the shapes of shell structures using model tests of appropriately loaded flexible membranes. He developed the shell structure for large spans by inverting the resultant shape, which carried its weight almost entirely via membrane forces. The numerical solution of the above experiments using Midas Civil is presented herein. The basic principles of the method are demonstrated on the example of sagged cable. The numerically found shapes are compared with the analytical solution. A shell is designed based on the numerically found shapes and its stress response to dead load is described, particularly in relation to the membrane action. In the next part, the acquired knowledge and methods were used to design three relatively complicated shell structures. Each structure was statically analysed and its static behaviour was described. Structures with perfectly rigid or flexible supports, which simulate real behaviour of the supports, were studied. In the final phase, the results of static analysis of the selected shell were experimentally verified on a physical model in a scale of 1: 55.56. The model has been built using 3D printing. The thesis describes the use of a modelling similarity, the model design, the production process, and the experiment. The load test confirmed the optimal design of the shell structure and the validity of the numerical method for finding their shapes.

[ES] Hoy en día, la arquitectura moderna está orientada principalmente al empleo eficiente de materiales tecnológicos y sostenibles, la tecnificación del proceso de diseño, proyecto y construcción, y la búsqueda de soluciones muy ligeras. Estas ideas se reflejan en las estructuras flexo-activas, que recientemente han atraído considerable atención como nuevo paradigma para construir estructuras ligeras, tanto en el ámbito de la investigación como en la práctica. El término "flexión activa" hace referencia a una categoría de estructuras en las que la flexión se emplea en el proceso de configuración de su forma. Los sistemas estructurales flexo-activos incluyen barras o láminas incurvadas cuya geometría es el resultado de su deformación elástica desde una configuración inicial recta o plana. Hasta el momento, el número de realizaciones es limitado; se trata sobre todo de aplicaciones experimentales con funcionalidad arquitectónica o artística. La obtención de la configuración de equilibrio es una de las principales dificultades que aparecen en la fase de concepción, debido precisamente a la no linealidad de la respuesta estructural de las barras activas, así como a la posible interacción con otros elementos estructurales como membranas o cables, que trabajan por forma, y cuya geometría no se puede fijar de modo arbitrario. Los métodos computaciones de determinación de forma para estructuras flexo-activas incluyen modelos de elementos finitos con cables virtuales no lineales que se acortan hasta alcanzar la configuración final, o algoritmos de relajación dinámica que consideran las variables que caracterizan la deformación de las barras activas. Esta tesis doctoral tiene por objeto proporcionar un análisis en profundidad de la aplicabilidad del principio de flexión activa al diseño de estructuras ligeras, en particular a los puentes peatonales. Para ello, la investigación se aborda desde tres puntos de vista: a) modelización computacional; b) eficiencia estructural; c) diseño y construcción. En primer lugar, se lleva a cabo una revisión de la bibliografía existente, haciendo hincapié en los trabajos previos en el diseño de pasarelas con flexión activa. En el campo de la modelización computacional, se desarrolla un novedoso método numérico de determinación de forma para estructuras flexo-activas basado en el modelo geométricamente exacto para piezas alargadas (también conocido como la teoría de vigas de Reissner-Simó). Distintos ejemplos numéricos han sido reproducidos para mostrar la exactitud del método. La parte de la investigación relacionada con el análisis de la eficiencia estructural se centra en el comportamiento del sistema flexo-activo propuesto en esta tesis para el diseño de estructuras ligeras: el arco flexo-activo arriostrado (o atirantado). Se trata de un arco plano compuesto por una barra flexible y continuo que se activa por la acción de los cables principales que tiran de ambos extremos de la varilla, y de los puntales o cables secundarios que desvían el cable principal y actúan en ciertas secciones transversales. La parte computacional-analítica se completa con el desarrollo de un procedimiento numérico basado en algoritmos genéticos, con el fin de obtener configuraciones estructurales eficientes. La tesis finaliza con el diseño, fabricación y montaje de una pasarela flexo-activa hecha con tubos PRFV utilizando este tipo estructural, realizada en el laboratorio de modelos de la Universitat Politècnica de València. / [CA] Hui dia, l'arquitectura moderna està orientada principalment a l'ús eficient de materials tecnològics i sostenibles, la tecnificació del procés de disseny, projecte i construcció, i la cerca de solucions molt lleugeres. Aquestes idees es reflecteixen en les estructures flexo-actives, que recentment han atret considerable atenció com a nou paradigma per a construir estructures lleugeres, tant en l'àmbit de la investigació com en la pràctica. El terme "flexió activa" fa referència a una categoria d'estructures en les quals la flexió s'empra en el procés de configuració de la seua forma. Els sistemes estructurals flexo-actius inclouen barres o làmines incorbades, la geometria de les quals és el resultat de la seua deformació elàstica des d'una configuració inicial recta o plana. Fins al moment, el nombre de realitzacions és limitat; es tracta sobretot d'aplicacions experimentals amb funcionalitat arquitectònica o artística. L'obtenció de la configuració d'equilibri és una de les principals dificultats que apareixen en la fase de concepció, degut precisament a la no linealitat de la resposta estructural de les barres actives, així com a la possible interacció amb altres elements estructurals com a membranes o cables, que treballen per forma, i la geometria de la qual no es pot fixar de manera arbitrària. Els mètodes computacions de determinació de forma per a estructures flexo-actives inclouen models d'elements finits amb cables virtuals no lineals que s'escurcen fins a aconseguir la configuració final, o algorismes de relaxació dinàmica que consideren les variables que caracteritzen la deformació de les barres actives. Aquesta tesi doctoral té per objecte proporcionar una anàlisi en profunditat de l'aplicabilitat del principi de flexió activa al disseny d'estructures lleugeres, en particular als ponts per als vianants. Per a això, la investigació s'aborda des de tres punts de vista: a) modelització computacional; b) eficiència estructural; c) disseny i construcció. En primer lloc, es duu a terme una revisió de la bibliografia existent, amb recalcament en els treballs previs en el disseny de passarel·les amb flexió activa. En el camp de la modelització computacional, es desenvolupa un nou mètode numèric de determinació de forma per a estructures flexo-actives basat en el model geomètricament exacte per a peces allargades (també conegut com la teoria de bigues de Reissner-Simó). Diferents exemples numèrics han sigut reproduïts per a mostrar l'exactitud del mètode. La part de la investigació relacionada amb l'anàlisi de l'eficiència estructural se centra en el comportament del sistema flexo-actiu proposat en aquesta tesi doctoral per al disseny d'estructures lleugeres: l' arc flexo-actiu esbiaixat (o lligat). Es tracta d'un arc pla compost per un membre flexible i continu que s'activa per l'acció dels cables principals que tiren de tots dos extrems de la vareta, i dels puntals o cables secundaris que desvien el cable principal i actuen en certa secció transversal de la vareta. La part computacional-analítica es completa amb el desenvolupament d'un procediment numèric basat en algorismes de tipus genètic, amb la finalitat d'obtindre configuracions estructurals eficients. La tesi finalitza amb el disseny, fabricació i muntatge d'una passarel·la flexo-activa feta amb tubs PRFV utilitzant aquest tipus estructural, realitzada en el laboratori de models de la Universitat Politècnica de València. / [EN] Nowadays, modern architecture is focused on the search of efficient uses of technological and sustainable materials, high-tech concept-design-erection processes and the possibility to produce lightweight solutions with maximum elegance in shape. These ideas are reflected on bending-active structures, which recently attracted considerable attention as a new paradigm to build lightweight structures both in research and practice. The concept 'active bending' refers to a category of structures in which bending is used in the process of shape configuration. Bending-active structural systems include curved rods or shells which have been elastically bent from an initial straight or plane configuration. As of now, the number of realisations is limited; they are mostly experimental ones, with architectural or artistic nature. Form finding of the equilibrium configuration is one of the main difficulties during the conceptual phase, due to the non-linearity of the structural response of the active members, and also to the interaction with other form-active structural elements as membranes or cables, whose geometry cannot be prescribed in advance. Computational form-finding methods for bending-active structures include finite element models with non-linear virtual links that are shortened to reach the final form, or dynamic relaxation (explicit) algorithms to cope with the variables describing the response of the active members. This PhD thesis aims to provide an indepth analysis on the applicability of the active bending principle to the design of lightweight structures, in particular pedestrian bridges. For that purpose, the work is carried out from three points of view: (a) computational modelling and simulation; (b) structural performance and efficiency; (c) design and construction. First of all, a literature review on the topic and a overview of realisations in the fied of bending-active footbridges is provided. In the field of computational modelling, a novel form-finding method based on the geometrically exact rod model (or Reissner-Simo beam theory) is implemented. Numerical examples are also given to show the accuracy of the method. The part of the work related to the analysis of the structural performance and efficiency is focused on the bending-active configuration proposed in this PhD thesis for designing lightweight structures: the bending-active braced (or tied) arch. This is a simple planar arch composed of a continuous flexible member that is activated by the action of main cables pulling at both ends of the rod, and secondary struts or cables that deviate the main cable and act at certain cross-section of the rod. The computational-analytical part is completed with the development of a numerical procedure based on genetic algorithms to obtain efficient structural configurations. The thesis ends with the design, fabrication and assembling of a bending-active short footbridge made of GFRP tubes using this structural type, held in the laboratory of concept models of the Polytechnic University of Valencia. / The author has had the opportunity to join the research project: Sistemas estructuras flexo-activos- Concepción, desarrollo y análisis de nuevos prototipos (FLEXACT - grant BIA2105-69330- P) / Bessini Muñoz, JG. (2021). Form-finding and Performance of Bending-active Structures. Proposals of Application to Lightweight Braced Arches [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/165575

This diploma thesis deals with problem of design and calculation of membrane structure of stadium roof. This is a complex engineering problem, which includes many partial problems: finding of initial form of membrane, statically and architecturally suitable arrangement of catenaries, economical solution of boundary conditions (foundations). All components affect each other and cannot be dealt without mutual coordination. It always greatly depends on the experience and intuition of engineer who design such structure. Task which cannot be resolved according to the theory of the first order. Equilibrium forces on the deformed structure, which in many projected structures gives satisfactory results, did not correspond to reality. It is therefore necessary to consider equilibrium of forces on the deformed structure according to the theory of large deformations. Diploma thesis was entered with regard to the intention of the companies Ing. Software Dlubal s.r.o. and FEM consulting s.r.o., working together to develop software RFEM. These companies plan to complement this program system with a module MEMBRANE for searching of initial shapes of membrane structures. This work is a contribution to the creation of this module.